Willard Scott, the beloved NBC Today Show weatherman who died on Sept. 4, 2021 at age 87, was remembered for his support of Catholic schools.

Michael Guerra, former president of the National Catholic Educational Association and a longtime member of Holy Trinity Parish in Washington, D.C., said Scott was a big fan of Catholic schools and frequently expressed his admiration on the Today Show during National Catholic Schools Week sponsored by NCEA.

Beginning in 1991, NCEA sent a large cake featuring the current schools’ week logo to the weatherman’s studio during Catholic Schools Week. Scott used the culinary prop to announce the theme of the week and extol the virtues of a Catholic education. 

“Best of all, Willard spoke from a personal experience,” said Mr. Guerra. “Both his daughters had attended Catholic schools, and he often referenced the excellent faith-based education they had received.”

Al Roker, the weather and feature anchor who succeeded Scott on the Today Show, also has saluted Catholic schools over the years. 

Guerra said Al Roker has met with a small delegation of students wearing Catholic Schools Week T-shirts during the week, interviewing the students just outside the Today Show window in New York. Willard’s personal endorsement has been echoed by Roker, a graduate of St. Catherine of Siena Elementary School in the Queens and Xavier High School in Manhattan. He attended the latter on a scholarship.

At a Catholic school fundraiser in 2016, Al Roker told the audience, “I am standing here today as the Today show weatherman because of what I learned at Xavier High School.”

“Throughout their careers both Willard Scott and Al Roker have served as powerful advocates for Catholic education,” said Guerra. “One of the first CSW themes was ‘Discover Catholic Schools.’  Without a doubt, Willard and Al have been instrumental in helping thousands of NBC viewers make that discovery.”

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